The historic Delta Queen riverboat will cruise again; give the gift of Death Valley

After a decade in dock, the 1920s-era Delta Queen riverboat will cruise again. President Donald Trump signed bipartisan legislation on Tuesday authorizing the 285-foot-long riverboat immortalized in poems and songs to cruise on the Mississippi and several other rivers. The Delta Queen was sidelined in 2008 by a federal law prohibiting overnight excursions on wooden vessels. Both U.S. senators from Missouri co-sponsored a bill to allow the exemption, which requires modifications to the wooden portions of the vessel. The company expects to begin three-, five- and seven-day cruises on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Cumberland, Kanawha, Arkansas and Illinois rivers in 2020. The Delta Queen is expected to visit more than 80 ports each year, including St. Louis, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Louisville, Ky., Chattanooga, Tenn., and St. Paul.

Associated Press

We’re going to Disney World

Save $300 to $600 on a Walt Disney World vacation in Orlando that includes lodging, theme park tickets and dining plan. For example, with the Play, Stay, Dine offer, a five-night stay in a garden-view room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa in early January costs $5,652 for a family of four. The deal includes six-day park admission, Disney dining plan and taxes — a savings of up to $600. The deal applies to select deluxe villa, deluxe, moderate and value properties. Stay three to 14 nights from Jan. 1 through March 9. Book by Jan. 2 (1-407-939-1936; ­disneyworld.disney.go.com).

Washington Post

Give the gift of Death Valley

Marjie Lambert • Miami Herald

Zabriskie Point in Death Valley.

This year, give the gift of experiences that will create lasting memories. Visit Death Valley National Park for untamed adventure, stunning landscapes and warm, sunny days. Following a multimillion-dollar revitalization, the Oasis at Death Valley is your perfect base camp for hiking, biking and exploring the expansive park. Consider the Inn at Death Valley, an elegant hideaway where new casitas provide privacy and luxury within easy walking distance of the Hollywood-style spring-fed pool. The Ranch at Death Valley offers a more casual, family-friendly setting with a children’s playground, expansive lawns and fire pits, as well as a spring-fed pool. Families are welcomed in a new Mission California-style Town Square where they can gather, shop or visit the Last Kind Words Saloon, a signature dining and entertainment venue (oasisatdeathvall­ey.com).

FamilyTravel.com

Don’t drink the water

The food served on airlines is not as fattening as it used to be, but passengers might want to stay clear of the water. The average number of calories per menu choice on U.S.-based carriers rose from 392 calories in 2016 to 405 calories last year but dropped to 373 calories this year, according to a study from the Hunter College New York City Food Policy Center. The calorie count dropped because airlines replaced foods such as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with salads and began offering new options including oatmeal for breakfast and vegan lunches, the study said. The study also warned passengers to avoid the tap water, coffee and tea served on a plane, saying there may be harmful bacteria in the water that comes from various municipal systems and is stored in the airplane’s tanks.

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Fishermen already dealing with a dramatic reduction in the amount of a key bait fish they are allowed to harvest will likely face an additional cut next year that could drive up the price of lobster for consumers.

A flood of laws banning abortions in Republican-run states has handed Democrats a political weapon heading into next year's elections, helping them paint the GOP as extreme and court centrist voters who could decide congressional races in swing states, members of both parties say.

Serious problems persist at Wyoming's largest mental health facility four years after employees left an incapacitated woman on a couch without food, water or bathroom use for over 24 hours, according to two groups that provide legal and advocacy services to patients in need.